The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-15
MILLS, OF TEXAS,
or TARIFF LEGISLATION.
Ho 10 Confident that n "Revonuo REFORM
Bill will be Passed-Thinks II will bo a
Oompromise Moasuro-Lawlsra Gold
Comfort to Mr.. Cleveland.

NEW YoRK, Dec. l4.-AIHorld specia
says: Representative Mills, Of Texas
who will probably be Chairman Of tht
Committee on Ways and Means, hm
been interviewed on the tariff question.
Ho Is quoted as saying: ~ heartily
agree With President Cloveland's tariff
ideas as put forth In his message. While
l believe that an sd valorem tariff Is the
only fair and wise measure, still will
vote for specific tariff If by tina. moans
can get hill passed reducing taxcs."
"Do you think bill will DO passed by
Congress reducing the tariff" w
III Congress does It's duty It will pass
some measure lowering the duties and
Decreasing revenue"
Do you think there will be much differ.
ence OF opinion about the bill?" n
swell, there arc many interests that
imagine they will be hurt by low duties
and helped by high ones, and, OF course,
they will be heard from, but hope We
may he able to harmonizs these conflict.
ing opinions and pass q bill making sub
stautiGl reductions" =.
. "Will the bill, do you think, pass the
Senator" r
II cannot tell about that. lam inclined
to think some bill will pass the Senate.
It may not bs what we want, and we may
quarrel come over 1t in Legislative way
and then agree on something. Oonsti-
luted as the two houses are now, 1t is hard
to predict what phase the bill will wear
whom It gets through, II it should succeed
at ALL"
"Do you think the tariff will be the issue
In tho compaign OF 1882"
"There Is no doubt Of it, and am glad
that We have the battle pitched on it. We
can win tho fight II we do not get fright.
ened and fly the fold"
do you think that any measure affect
ing the tariff that may be passed by this
Congress will make itself folt in the coun.
try at large in time to have any effect in
the campaign of 1887"
III the tariff is lowered considerably,
and should be passed by the first OF
April, to take effect June 80, the price Of
our exports will 70 up before tho bill
takes effect, and before November the i'm.
proved condition OF agriculture, manufac.
lures and commerce will be very percep-
tibIc."
"Would you reduce or repeal the in
ternal tax on tobaCco?"
"No, would not, II I could pass the
bill by myself, but cannot, and shall
have to get the best can and be content
with it. The President has laid down in
bis message the true principles-ta1 lux.
uries high, necessaries Of life low, If taxed
at NIL. People can do without tobacco
better than they can do without shirts
and shoes."
"The Rspublicans say the Democrats
arc in favor OF free trade and mean to do
away with custome?" b.
THAT is all silly. We epsak Of free
trade as We do OF free men. Yet free men
have to be taxed to support the Govern
ment and so does trade. When we say
free men we mean men who refuse to bear
unnecessary burdena, and when We speak
OF free trade We mean trade stripped Of
unnecessary burdens. We have had Cuu.
tom Houses and tariffs from the beginning
and will have them to the end" :
Mr.. Mills expressed confidence that a
tariff measure would pass the House with
out much debate, and that it would be
presented to the Senate at an carly day,